Mouse Guard

Grasslake and beyond

Our Matriarch, most honorable Gwendolyn, has asked that I begin to keep a log of my missions. It is for this reason only that I write. I can’t imagine why it is necessary, or that anyone would take pleasure in reading my chicken scratch. I do not fancy myself much of a scribe nor story teller, but I will give it my best.

The journey to Sprucetuck was mostly uneventful. When Saxon and I reached the town, we were escorted directly to the head scientists laboratory. Glass beakers filled with strange colored liquids lined the walls. The air was thick with the smell of herbs.

Governor Graham of Sprucetuck met us in the laboratory and placed in our care eight cases of precious elixirs. Saxon made a vow to deliver the goods to Lockhaven without spilling a single drop. My goal was similar: To deliver the goods safely and win favor within the Mouse Guard. We left Sprucetuck before the sun began to set.

Not long after our departure, we were set upon by a group of bandits lead by Kegan the Brave. They believed themselves a band of altruistic thieves, claiming to need the elixir in our possession to keep their town alive during the coming winter months. I tried to convince them that if the elixir made it to Lockhaven, it would save many a mouse from death during the winter, including mice from his village. Alas, the villain would not budge in his demands, and we were forced to come to a compromise. Kegan expected no less than three of the eight cases, and in turn he would lend to us an honor guard led by Brandy, one of Kegan’s finest archers. Upon agreement, we parted ways.

Not long after we had left them, we heard behind us the approach of some creature running quickly through the underbrush. One of Kegan’s mice rushed toward us, panic and fear in his eyes. He informed us that the bandit group had been ambushed by weasels and that Kegan and his crew had been taken prisoner along with the goods they had taken from Saxon and I. At Brandy’s request we agreed to go back and help them. We left our cargo in the care of the two other mice who were our honor guard.

As we approached the weasel camp, a sudden and violent thunderstorm began. In the flashes of blinding white light I could see Kegan and is mice huddled and tied together in the center of the camp. The supplies were close by, as were two armored weasel guards. I could smell their stench even through the pouring rain.

Between flashes of lightning I stole toward the captives under cover of darkness. I finally reached them and quickly began to slice their bonds. I much have startled one of the mice, for he cried out, attracting the attention of the weasels. They set upon me and I was easily overtaken and tied up.

It was then that the ground beneath us began to rumble and shake. Leave it to a squad of stupid weasels to set up camp in a dried creek bed. I stared in horror as a wall of water hurtled over the tents and every creature was swept into the current. I tried my hardest to maintain what footing I could, pushing against rocks to keep the other mice and I from rushing down the stream. Water rushed over my head and I gasped for air when my snout broke the surface.

As lightning flashed above, I caught glimpses of Saxon battling a weasel warrior on a rock above the water’s surface. The two creatures battled fiercely, lightning glinting off Saxon’s mighty blade as he thrust again and again toward the weasel. Saxon stabbed the weasel and knocked the creature into the rushing torrent. The brave mouse was thrown off balance as a passing branch caught on the end of his cloak, wrenching his neck in a painful way.

Despite his injury, Saxon dove into the stream and pulled our half-drowned forms from the water. The supplies, unfortunately, had been swept down stream and were nowhere to be found. We waited out the storm and then traveled back to where we left our remaining cargo. The remainder of the journey was, thankfully, uneventful. The five cases we kept in our possession were delivered safely to Lockhaven.

The spiders are no longer mindless rabble

I could feel the air of wariness as my compatriots and I entered the Matriarch’s chambers.

“A terrible tragedy has befallen the region of Shorestone,” Lady Gwendolyn began while fanning herself in her uncomfortably warm meeting room. “Senator Dominic has been been bitten and taken deathly ill. His attacker was one of the wolf spiders that has been known to roam the area. I charge you two patrols to take this precious vial of wolf spider anti-venom to Shorestone with the utmost haste.”

Kyle and Thom, our two patrol leaders, noded in acknowledgement as Sadie, Lieam, and I bowed our assent. We set out into the sweltering heat of the hottest summer ever recorded in the almanacs of Lockhaven. My patrol, lead by Kyle, trudged on as Thom and Sadie scouted out ahead. Sadie suddenly remembered a shortcut through an abandoned tunnel close by. She searched through the dry brush and was rewarded with the sight of a dark and slightly cooler hole in the side of a small hill. Lieam’s knowledge of small dark spaces helped Sadie to navigate the passage and we emerged on the other side, closer to our goal.

We reached the borders of Shorestone near dusk and decided to set up camp for the night. During the evening we were all awakened by the smell of wood smoke. The forest quite near us was ablaze. We attempted to run straight through the conflagration in the hopes that we could make it before the fire got too out of hand. Sadie insisted that delay is not an option and going around the blaze would keep us from delivering our precious package in time. Suddenly a flaming tree fell directly in our path. Lieam handed me his length of line, as I was the best climber, and I quickly shimmied up the side of the trunk. The rest of the mice were able to climb up the rope ladder and we were able to traverse the rest of the fire with only the smell of singed fur lingering as we escaped.

I am becoming increasingly impressed with Lieam’s skills as we travel on. We finally reached Shorestone Stronghold and delivered the anti-venom to the healing mice that were attending Senator Dominic. We were relieved when we were told that he should make a full recovery. Kyle wished to speak privately with the senator and so the rest of us headed to the local tavern to unwind. I pulled Lieam aside and bought him an ale. We chatted for a bit and I told him how much he had impressed me. I could see the elation on the young mouse’s face. He is a good lad. Just then Thom stood and raised his flagon.

“A toast, to Sadie who has done an admirable job leading us through the perils of our latest quest. Skol!” Thom shouted in his deep aged voice. “Once we return to Lockhaven I wish to retire and I elect Sadie as my replacement,” he said in his clipped tones.

At first Kyle seemed skeptical of this appointment, his distrust of city mice was evident on his face, but I could see his steely glare melt away as he thought back on the times Sadie has saved his fur during the past couple of days.

Sadie greeted this announcement by declaring her intent to track down the lair of the spiders that had been plaguing the local inhabitants. We tracked down the senator’s assistant, who apparently had knowledge of where the attack took place, at a restaurant down the street. She told us that the senator was bitten while overseeing a bridge renovation project just outside of town. We decided to start our search there.

When we reached the bridge the trail seemed to go cold. All the other mice seemed stumped by the lack of any evidence of the spider’s whereabouts. I admit my tracking skills are poor, however, I was able to tax myself and managed to spy a single gossamer thread of spider silk which was almost too faint to see. We were able to follow the thread to the base of a large tree with a gap in the roots. As we approached we noticed scuttling movement in the gap.

“Go baack!” hissed a cold spider voice.

Sadie wished to have one of us stand in the clearing in order to lure the spiders out of their den. Just then a large wolf spider pounced on Thom’s back from behind. We were surrounded. I quickly leaped into action. I drew my sword and quickly jabbed out the eyes of the spider attacking Thom as he kicked and bit the creature. Kyle and Lieam attacked one of the spiders as it was leaving the tree’s base. Kyle levered the spider off balance with his spear while Lieam stabbed with his sword. With these two spiders dispatched the remaining one was quick work for all of us to fell together but not without the tolls of the battle making Thom weary.

We entered the lair of the spiders to search for and destroy any remaining in the colony and eggs that would hatch into a new generation of horrors. We entered a chamber filled with the cocooned remains of insects and other small mammals. Sadie noticed one of the cocoons was still moving and so we split it open. It held an emaciated mouse, wan and delirious, just barley gripping the last straws of his life.

“He… is… here. The… Wolf… Spider… King,” were the only words he could manage as the poison took his life. Sadie tried desperately to save the mouse’s life but was unable to and so became frustrated with herself.

We continued to search the chamber. Lieam’s exceptional knowledge of small dark spaces once again proved useful as he noticed a secret hatch that opened into another chamber. As we descended into the tight tunnel a new deeper voice boomed out.

“It’s not often food comes to me!”

What at first appeared to be a wall in fact turned out to be the harry abdomen of the largest wolf spider any of us had ever seen. I knew this must be the Wolf Spider King. I once again drew my sword and charged. The spider’s legs were a blur of movement as I thrust and parried with my sword. Though I pride myself on my skill with a blade I was unable to land a single hit. The tunnel we fought in was just large enough for Lieam to assist but sadly his sword skills were lacking. Both the spider and I realized that we were at an impasse. The spider turned and scuttled up a secret side passage. As he left his bulk must have removed some sort of support structures because the tunnel began to collapse and we were unable to pursue. Quickly we retreated to the previous chamber and then back out into the open air but we could find no trace of the escape route.

It seems that Senator Dominic was bitten by a giant Wolf Spider and his life was in the hands of our heroes. Two patrols headed out from Lockhaven on Gwendolyn’s orders to deliver anit-venin to the healers of Shorestone. With the blazing sun beating down upon them, Thom and Sadie searched for short cuts while Kyle, Saxon and Lieam trudged ahead. Despite thunder and terrible humidity, Lieam kept us all focused and the weather stood no chance against our company’s determination. Both patrols managed to make it safely to the border of Shorestone.

While camping for the night, all were awakened to the smell of fire. The hedge-rows were ablaze and with only quick-wit, somewhat haphazard planning and Sadie’s impeccable knowledge of tree roots were the Mouse Guard able to fight their way past the daunting flames. The anti-venin delivered, the Guard took in dinner and drink with the locals. Thom gave a rousing speech about Sadie’s abilities and recommended her to take his position as Leader. Kyle was suspicious, but had to admit that Sadie may be fit for the job.

With Saxon leading the way, the combined Patrol then headed to the old stone bridge just outside of town. There they had hoped to find the Wolf Spider responsible for attacking the Senator. Unfortunately, their hopes were dashed as every attempt they made to locate the spider was thwarted. A trail was spotted that pointed to a large egg sack being maneuvered toward the wood. Sadie’s extensive root knowledge once again lead the group in the right direction. While hiding in a nearby bush, scouting the entrance to a large underground nest, our indefatigueable party was beset upon by Wolf Spiders. Thom was struck first but our warriors managed to fend of the beasts injuring or killing a few. Thom, so close to retirement, is tired out when having to face yet another battle.

Upon entering the cavern, Lieam’s knowledge of hidey-holes proved invaluable and the group was able to wipe out all of the spiders save one. Sadie became very angry when her herb knowledge failed to save the life of a lone mouse found dying and bound in web. Saxon bravely dove into the lair of the Spider-King where he was immediately given a choice: leave or be eaten! Saxon thrust his sword into the monster but his blade was deflected. Kyle and Lieam both tried, in vain, to injure the King. The King escaped and Saxon has declared him a sworn enemy.

Monsters and whores

Three Mouse Guard members start out in Grasslake to work on the perimeter for the year. Harold, the Brewer, asks for their help as a large monster is attacking the town proper. It seems a large turtle has settled into the area between the bakery and the brewery for a rest after having destroyed much of the surrounding buildings. With quick thinking, and a lack of locals knowledgeable about amphibians, the guard fills a wagon full of food and beer and manages to lure the beast back down to the barely recognizable dock. The wagon is hoisted into the water and the turtle follows. It seems that the turtle was just trying to defend its nest of eggs that a small child had been playing near earlier in the day.

A sinister man, Lester, tries to besmirch Sloan’s name during a duel of wits with Kyle. He claims that Sloan left him at the alter and, not being a mouse of her word, is unfit for the guard. Kyle has to concede that Sloan may not be trustworthy but the jilted man, Lester, has to concede that Kyle is not responsible for ousting Sloan from the guard.

Nathaniel finds the jilted man’s sister and discovers that Sloan left him after walking in on him with a prostitute, full fur on fur. Sloan’s name is cleared and she is able to best him in a short physical confrontation with the help of Nathaniel and Kyle.

A blog for your campaign

While the wiki is great for organizing your campaign world, it’s not the best way to chronicle your adventures. For that purpose, you need a blog!

The Adventure Log will allow you to chronologically order the happenings of your campaign. It serves as the record of what has passed. After each gaming session, come to the Adventure Log and write up what happened. In time, it will grow into a great story!

Best of all, each Adventure Log post is also a wiki page! You can link back and forth with your wiki, characters, and so forth as you wish.

One final tip: Before you jump in and try to write up the entire history for your campaign, take a deep breath. Rather than spending days writing and getting exhausted, I would suggest writing a quick “Story So Far” with only a summary. Then, get back to gaming! Grow your Adventure Log over time, rather than all at once.